Sehome High Awarded Grant

The History Channel awarded a $10,000 grant for a project with Sehome High School teachers and students. History Link, a nonprofit producer, will work with Sehome High to document the history of the Whatcom County Territorial Courthouse in Bellingham. The project received the maximum funding under the Save Our History program, and was one of 27 applicants accepted nationwide. In the 2006-07 school year, Sehome students will research the history of Washington Territory, 1853-18889, and the events at the Whatcom County Territorial Courthouse.

From the grant …
"The Whatcom Territorial Courthouse Heritage project will document the building's history for inclusion in HistoryLink, the online encyclopedia of Washington State History. This will integrate the story of the building and the events that took place within into the rest of the story of Washington and its peoples. The students' involvement will increase the visibility of the project within the local community and across the state. The essays and displays the students will produce along with the building. The "History on Wheels" traveling trunk will reach out to younger students and educate them to the building and the people who passed through its doors."

"Student involvement includes researching court cases from 1863 to 1888. These files cover everything from marital disputes, admiralty cases, mercantile bankruptcies, criminal acts, and other judicial renderings. Often sheets from old ledgers, witnesses’ lists, statements create a broad and fascinating portrait of life in early Bellingham. Students will develop and write stories for History Link and exhibit text for the History on Wheels trunk from their research findings. Text for future exhibitions within the building will come from their findings."

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